Former ManU Manager DAVID MOYES "has done an awful lot of thinking since April 22," and now he "is reflecting on his brief but difficult tenure in the first interview he has given since his brutal dismissal," according to Matt Lawton of the London DAILY MAIL. Foremost in his mind "is a desire to communicate how determined he is to return to work." But he "will be choosing his next job very carefully, and understandably so." Moyes: "The reason I went to United was because I thought I was joining a club that would give me time. That was the big thing. I didn’t want to change anything immediately. I wanted to take my time working out what I thought was needed." Moyes accepts that "following the finest British manager in history was no easy task." He said, "It was a step into the unknown and, looking back now, it was near enough the impossible job. But it was the right job for me." He added, "I was devastated to lose the job because it was something I felt I could make a real success of. We knew it was going to take time to make the necessary changes. ... In the end, I don’t feel I was given time to succeed or fail" (DAILY MAIL, 8/17).

Nike promoted VP & GM of Nike Women's HEIDI O'NEILL to VP & GM of Nike Stores, where she will be responsible for the company's retail presence worldwide, including oversight of Nike-branded partner stores. The company also promoted VP & GM of Global Merchandising AMY MONTAGNE to VP & GM of Nike Women's (Nike). ... Former Man City CEO GARRY COOK, "who joined the UFC two years
ago to head operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is moving
to Las Vegas to take over as the promotion's chief global officer."
This would make Cook "one of the most powerful figures in the
organization, as he would be in charge of all the international
territories" (MMA FIGHTING, 8/15). ... Liga MX side UNAM Pumas is in "early-season trouble" and sacked coach JOSE LUIS TREJO on Friday after a fourth successive defeat. Pumas, which "began the championship with a win, lost 2-1 away to champions Leon on Thursday and are now two from bottom with three points." Former Mexico forward DAVID PATIÑO, who played for Pumas from '86-93, was "named caretaker" (REUTERS, 8/17).

China's President XI JINPING met with UN Secretary-General BAN KI-MOON in Nanjing on Aug. 16, "on the sidelines of the Second Summer Youth Olympic Games" (CHINA, 8/16). ... Ferrari President LUCA DI MONTEZEMOLO "has dismissed suggestions" FERNANDO ALONSO and KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN "could leave the team at the end of the year." The team's "failure to produce a winning car led to speculation over both men." But Di Montezemolo said, "We are lucky to have two great champions, who are working with the whole team to get back to being competitive again" (BBC, 8/14). ... Talks between the Korea FA and BERT VAN MARWIJK "over the national team coaching job have broken down and South Korea will now turn their attention to other candidates." The Dutchman "had been the KFA's top pick to fill the role" left vacant by HONG MYUNG-BO. Local media reported that tax issues "had been a major factor in the breakdown of the contract talks," while the 62-year-old had also said that "he wanted to spend more time back home in Europe than in South Korea if he took the job" (REUTERS, 8/17). ... RORY MCILROY "paraded the Claret Jug around Old Trafford" at the halftime of ManU's Premier League curtain-raiser against Swansea (London INDEPENDENT, 8/16). ... SIM BHULLAR "became the first player of Indian descent picked by an NBA team when he was signed by Sacramento Kings," which are owned by an Indian-American. Kings Owner VIVEK RANADIVE said, "I've long believed that India is the next great frontier for the NBA, and adding a talented player like Sim only underscores the exponential growth basketball has experienced in that nation." Bhullar, who is 7 feet and 5 inches, "was born in Toronto, Canada and played two seasons for New Mexico State." He was a two-time Western Athletic Conference Tournament MVP (HINDUSTAN TIMES, 8/16). ... SHAHARYAR KHAN "is all set to become the next Pakistan Cricket Board chairman as he was the only candidate to file nomination papers for the elections and no one else came up to contest against him." The acting PCB Chair and Chief Election Commissioner Justice (ret.) SAIR ALI had already said that "he will leave the PCB" (EXPRESS TRIBUNE, 8/17).